TAMPA, Fla. – The University of South Florida’s head men’s basketball coach, Amir Abdur-Rahim, died Thursday at the age of 43, according to the school’s athletics program.
USF officials said Abdur-Rahim passed away due to complications while he was undergoing a medical procedure at a Tampa-area hospital.
“All of us with South Florida Athletics are grieving with the loved ones of Coach Abdur-Rahim,” said Michael Kelly, the vice president for Athletics at USF. “He was authentic, driven, and his infectious personality captivated all of Bulls Nation. Coach Abdur-Rahim leaves a lasting impact on our student-athletes, the University, and the community. We are supporting those closest to him, including his family, team, and athletics staff, to ensure they have the resources they need to deal with this tremendous loss.”
RELATED: USF Bulls on a record run under first year head coach Amir Abdur-Rahim
Abdur-Rahim took over as head coach of the men’s basketball team last season and was getting ready to enter into his second with the Bulls in less than a week.
“In a very short time, Coach Abdur-Rahim made an indelible impact on the University of South Florida,” USF President Rhea Law said. “In his first season as our head coach, he brought an unmatched enthusiasm, achieved unprecedented success and helped generate unforgettable memories for Bulls Nation.”
The head coach was the American Athletic Conference Coach of the Year this past season, officials said. He also led the Bulls to their first regular-season conference championship following a 25-8 record. He also led them to their first-ever Top 25 ranking during the regular season, reaching as high as No. 24 in the Associated Press and USA Today Coaches Poll.
USF said Abdur-Rahim is survived by his wife, Arianne, and three children.
STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 13 TAMPA:
Two days after being bounced from the Big 12 women's basketball tournament in the second round, Arizona State has fired women's basketball coach Natasha Adair.
The SEC men’s basketball regular season draws to a close as the No. 1 ranked Auburn Tigers battle the No. 7 ranked Alabama Crimson Tide in this fierce in-stat
The top-ranked Auburn Tigers will look to get back into the win column when they battle
It’s the last day of the regular season in the Big East, with five games on Saturday that will shape Big East Tournament seeding and in UConn’s case, cou